Jan 14, 2008 5:32 pm US/Mountain
Deputies: Murder Suspect Rented From Victim
CASTLE ROCK, Colo. (CBS4) ―
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Deputies said they had Warren Worthington under constant surveillance until a warrant was issued.
CBS
Douglas County investigators said Monday that the suspect in the murder of a realtor last week was a tenant at a business building in Denver that the victim owned.
Warren Worthington, 45, is accused of stabbing and running over Henry Blair, 61, last Sunday. Police believe there was some sort of dispute involving their relationship as landlord and tenant.
"Throughout the investigative process, it was determined the suspect and the victim were involved in a business transaction, specifically a landlord tenant relationship," Lt. Darren Weekly with the Douglas Co. Sheriff's Office said.
Blair's body was found late that evening off Interstate 25 at the Happy Canyon Road exit.
A coroner's reports said Blair died as the result of massive bodily injury due to cutting and blunt force trauma. Investigators said he was stabbed and had injuries from an apparent auto-pedestrian accident.
"It was determined through the autopsy that the victim died as a result of massive bodily injury, due to cutting and blunt force trauma," Weekly said.
Deputies said they had Worthington under constant surveillance until a warrant was issued. He operated an auto-detail shop at the Denver location owned by Blair. Worthington was arrested Sunday afternoon at a gentlemen's club in Adams County.
He was being held without bond.
Calvin Murphy, Worthington's neighbor, said he was a loner who had moved in less than a year ago and described him as a man who had few visitors and rarely talked. Yet, he said he was stunned by the arrest.
"To me, he was a cool guy. Like I say, he's more like a loner," Murphy said. "It was shocking to me, you know, it was shocking. He isn't that kind of guy."
State records showed Worthington had a couple of previous arrests. He was arrested last August in Denver for felony larceny, felony property damage and criminal damage. He was also arrested in May of 2006 for felony theft, felony property damage and criminal mischief.
Kelly Archuleta knew Blair as her real estate agent and as a family friend. She said the community is simply heartbroken at the loss of a good man.
"When you see his family, and all the family and friends that were at his service yesterday, it just clearly shows what an incredible man he was, and just what a difference he made in so many people's lives," Archuleta said.
Douglas County Sheriff Dave Weaver thanked the various agencies involved in the investigation and said that more than 1,000 hours of work have been put into the case to date.
Deputies said they would continue to investigate the crime and collect evidence if necessary.
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